October is Transport Month. During this month Department of Transport and its entities will showcase transport infrastructure services in aviation; maritime; public transport and roads. This month will also be used to further advance the country’s road safety initiatives, while also creating awareness of the economic benefits of the sector.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will officially launch 2019 Transport Month on 5 October 2019 in Gauteng, Heidelburg Weigh Bridge.
Our investments in the transport sector are aimed at stimulating development and creating jobs as part of the country’s Nine-Point Plan. These investments will ensure that we build an integrated public transport network across the country.
Our investments in rail, roads and public transport is changing the way people access their places of work, study and entertainment. These investments will also help to grow our economy, and address the challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
October was declared Transport Month in 2005 during the Transport Lekgotla. It is used to raise awareness on the important role of transport in the economy and to encourage participation from civil society and business, including the provision of a safe and more affordable, accessible and reliable transport system in the country.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, joined by the Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula will, on Saturday 05 October 2019, launch the October Transport Month campaign at an event on the N3 Highway Southbound at the Heidelberg Weighbridge in Gauteng.
The President will also unveil the revamped and Cabinet-approved Arrive Alive programme of the Department of Transport.
The new programme will place road safety in the national a spotlight through a 365 Days Road Safety Action Agenda to transform road user behaviour.
The Road Safety Action Agenda will mainstream road safety interventions through the daily activities of transport authorities, cultivate round-the-clock traffic law enforcement and discourage unsafe road user behaviour.
It is estimated that road accidents cost the economy R166 billion a year.
President Ramaphosa will also have an opportunity to proclaim the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act that he signed into law on 13 August 2019.
The AARTO legislation ushers in a new regime in driver and road user behaviour for the country.
At its full implementation, the AARTO Act will discourage bad and persuade good road user and road traffic behavior by providing a scheme for road traffic contraventions and facilitate the adjudication of road traffic infringements.
The President will give a keynote address during the official launch of the October Transport Month campaign to be attended by a contingent of traffic and law enforcement officers from all provinces, and key stakeholders including the private sector, transport industry, motorcycling associations, the religious and interfaith fraternity and relatives of people who lost their lives in road crashes.
President Ramaphosa will also be supported by Gauteng Premier David Makhura, Provincial MECs of Roads, Transport, Police, Community Safety and Public Works and senior government officials.
Details of the official launch of the October Transport Month campaign are as follows:
Date: Saturday, 05 October 2019
Time: 07:30 (for accreditation purposes)
Venue: N3 Highway Southbound, Heidelberg Weighbridge, Gauteng
RSVP: Takalani Mukwevho on 082 227 9308 / takalanim@gcis.gov.za or Tshegofatso Maake on 063 281 9453 / maaket@dot.gov.za
NB: Media accreditation for the event will be made available earlier at the venue. Members of the media are requested to arrive earlier for this purpose and produce their press cards, green bar-coded South African ID documents or passports.
Media enquiries:
Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707, and
Collen Msibi, Head of Communications, Department of Transport on 082 414 5279
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
Event Category: Commemorative events